I'm from Boston.

I'm from Boston.

I've lived here in Massachusetts my entire life.  I was born in the city.  I graduated from a large university in the city.  I was married here.  This is my home.

I complain about the weather from December to April but I really do like it here.  Although, I may opt to hang out in Florida for the winter during my senior years.

I was raised in a fairly typical Boston Irish Catholic household.  We went to church every Sunday.  We didn't eat meat on Fridays during Lent.  We're frugal and drive old Volvos for years and years and years.  Yes, I did go to a Catholic school, but only for two years.

I like the Red Sox and the Patriots.  Everyone likes the Red Sox and the Patriots.  Even if you don't like the Red Sox and the Patriots, you say you do or someone will kick your ass.

I know one vegetarian and I only know she's a vegetarian because others have told me.  I've never heard her say, "I'm a vegetarian."  I don't know any vegans.

I have never seen any children here in New England dressed in Matilda Jane or smocked clothing.  There's absolutely nothing wrong with either of these, but they're definitely not a New England thing.

We call everyone "guys."  "Come on, guys."  "You guys ready to go?"  "Did you guys decide what you want for dinner?"  Those quotes are exact statements I make to the girls.  But it only works if you are talking directly to them.  So, for example, I would never say, "I'm going to pick up the guys from school."  Got it?  And we don't say "youse guys."  That's a Jersey thing, I think.  Not Boston.

If I were to address a group as dear, sweet friends, it would be aimed towards people I've known near and dear for a really long time.  And even then, that's pushing it.  Don't forget, I'm Boston Irish Catholic. We were taught to not show emotion.  This is why I don't begin my posts with "dear sweet readers" or "good morning, dear readers!"  It would be fake.  We simply do not talk like this.  (I feel like this is a Southern thing.  Am I wrong?)  

I always knew that at some point I would blog less and less about the girls.  There'll always be photos though because of the photographer thing I've got going on.  I never gave much thought to what the future would hold except that I would always keep posting photos.  Without this blog, I have no doubt that my photography skills would not be where they are today.  After I retired last year, I gave some thought to starting over in the blog world with something that wasn't strictly focused on being a mom and having triplets.  You all know that I love to travel, even if it is mainly here in the US, and I really enjoy sharing photographs of our travels along with tips and sometimes trip reports.  I once told Rich that I wanted to have a travel blog and he responded with, "But then you'd have to actually travel."  Real life is that one of us needs to work a 9-to-5 job so any travel is limited to vacation schedules and school calendars.  I can't compete with those who homeschool their kids and Airbnb their homes.

Probably because I have the most time I've ever had in the past ten years to actually think, I've spent time perusing social media and the blog world.  (Sometimes not a good thing.)  One day, I came across a New England blog.  A blog specifically focused on New England.  And then there was another.  And another.  This is a thing and it's kind of what I've got here so that's what I'm going with.  I'm a Boston/New England blogger.  I live here so I suppose I never realized that people from elsewhere would be interested.

Last week, I read a little blurb about a couple on IG who allegedly receive thousands of dollars in ad revenue per photo.  One comment regarding their photos read "but this isn't real life."  A response to this comment was "who cares about real life.  I want to look at pretty pictures."  There's a woman on IG who must spend THOUSANDS of dollars dressing her children.  I'm sure she's not the only one but she pops up frequently.  It's absolutely mind-blowing to me.  (See comment above regarding my frugality.)  But this is why she's popular.  It's not real.  It can't be.  Those outfits are costumes because no one NO ONE in the real world dresses their children like this and then says, "Sure you can paint these Easter eggs."

So no outfits which essentially amount to costumes for my children.  And I hope you understand why I don't call you guys my "dear, sweet readers."